Eco-Schools Programme

The Eco-Schools Programme is the world’s largest environmental education programme and aims to make environmental awareness and action an intrinsic part of the life and ethos of a school. It encourages young people to begin improving the environments of their school and local communities and increase their environmental awareness.

Eco-Schools work through a simple seven-step process resulting in the programme becoming central to the school’s ethos. Schools can choose from ten eco-topics ranging from litter and waste to energy, biodiversity and transport. Eco-Schools work towards achieving awards – from bronze and silver to the prestigious Green Flag.

In 2016 Ballyclare Secondary School achieved the Bronze Award for progress made towards increasing the level of recycling of waste and the reduction of litter within the school environment. Every department now has a paper recycling bin which is emptied regularly by Eco-Club members, and an ink cartridge and toner recycling scheme in aid of Cancer Focus NI is now in place. The club is made up of representatives from Years 8, 9, 10, 13 and 14 who meet fortnightly on Wednesday afternoons from 3pm – 4pm in Room 210 in the Geography Department. The team are currently working towards gaining ‘Green Flag Status’ for the school.

Links to the Curriculum

Issues surrounding sustainable development are explored through curriculum activities in many year groups.

Pupils cover topical issues such as healthy living and litter in speaking and listening tasks, functional writing tasks and in writing for audience and purpose. In Year 9 pupils read the novel ‘Trash’ which focuses on the topic of litter.

Geography Department

At Key Stage 3 pupils study:

Environmental geography

Geography in the news

The water cycle and how it is affected by human interference

Water issues in LEDCs due to flooding

Waste and recycling

Types of energy and their effect on the environment

Economic, social and environmental impacts of tourism

Climate change

At GCSE these themes are consolidated and extended further by looking at:

The Greenhouse Effect – cause and impact

Renewable energy sources

Contrasts in world development

Sustainable development of settlements

Managing our resources

Ecotourism

At A-Level pupils study:

Sustainable river management

Biodiversity

The Geography Department also support the charity Kids4School. This charity operates a child sponsorship programme which primarily enables children to go to school in Tanzania, Africa.

Health and Social Care Department

At A-Level pupils study:

Concepts of health and well-being

Factors affecting health and well-being

Health promotion

Local health improvement priorities

Home Economics Department

Healthy living is integrated through all aspects of Home Economics teaching. The healthy eating advice from the Eatwell guide is taught in Year 8 and further developed in Year 9 and 10. Practical work reflects the advice from the eat well guide.

In Years 8-10 pupils also study:

Organic food

Food Miles

Ethical shopping e.g Fair Trade

Recycling

GCSE Food and Nutrition

This course includes the following topics:

Eatwell Guide

Food Provenance

Ethical and environmental factors that affect food choice

Food labelling and packaging

Strategies to reduce food waste

Saving electricity and fuel when cooking

Occupational studies: Food preparation

This course includes the following topics:

Recycling of packaging

Healthy eating alternatives

Consideration of energy conservation and environmental issues in the catering industry.